Control mechanism for mine doors



G. ca. GDOVICHIN ETAL 2,709,583

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR MINE DOORS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 8, 1950 George 6. Gdovic/nh Paul Bagdmski INVENTOR5 L 1955 G. G. GDOVICHIN ET AL 9 CONTROL MECHANISM FOR MINE DOORS Filed May 8, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 George G. Gdawthin Paul Bagdanski INVENTORS y 31, 1955 G. G. GDOVICHIN ET AL 2,709,583

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR MINE DOORS 5 t e e h s v e e h s 3 Filed May 8, 1950 m S m ,m w N w m a w EB 0. Z w GP m j w vm n U n Q h mm United States Patent 2,709,583 CONTROL MECHANISM FOR MINE DOORS George G. Gdovichin, Portage, and Paul Bogdanski, Clune, Pa.

Application May 8, 1950, Serial No. 160,742 1 Claim. (Cl. 268-65) This invention relates to control means for operating doors, and more particularly to a device for controlling the operation of a mine door.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved mechanism for controlling a mine door from a mine car or the like.

A further object of this invention is to provide means for positively holding a mine door in an open position when it is desired to drive a mine car through the opening which is selectively closed by the mine door.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a mine door which has a positively operative mechanism for opening and closing the same so that a minimum of draft will enter the mine and which will also minimize the damage and danger resulting from an explosion in the mine.

Still further objects of the invention reside in the provision of a control mechanism for mine doors that is strong, durable, highly efficient in operation, simple in construction and manufacture, entirely automatic in operation insofar as it will open upon the approach of a mine car and remain open while the mine car passes therethrough and then will automatically close in response to the actuation of a suitable switch by the mine car, and which device is very easily installed.

These, together with the various ancillary objects of the invention which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this mine car control mechanism, preferred embodiments of which have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way of example, wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of a preferred form of the device shown in operative installation in a mine tunnel;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view showing schematically the method in which the mine door is opened so as to permit passage of a mine car;

Figure 3 is an elevational view of the switch for stopping the mine door opening mechanism when the mine door approaches an opened position;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view showing in detail the latch means for holding the mine door in an open position;

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view of another form of mine door control mechanism included in the concept of the present invention; and

Figure 6 is an elevational view parts thereof being broken away to show other parts in detail of the drive means for the embodiment of mine door control mechanism shown in Figure 5.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral 10 generally designates a mine door which is mounted by suitable hinges in a frame 12. The hinges may be of any suitable configuration and are generally indicated at 14. By means of suitable support members 16, 18 and 20, the main portion of the control mechanism for these mine doors is operatively emplaced in the mine tunnel. The support members are preferably formed of screw jacks in order that they may be rigidly secured within the tunnel by adjustably engaging the floor and the roof of the mine tunnel.

Mounted on the support members 16 and 13 and extending therebetween is a support plate 22 on which a motor 24 is secured together with a drum 26 which is driven by the motor 24. Terminally connected to the drum 26 and to an eye 28 secured to an attaching plate 30 which is secured to the door 10 is a cable 32. Hence, as the drum 26 is rotated in one direction the cable 32 will be wound thereon thus causing the door 10 to be opened.

Now there is mounted on plate 34 on which there is pivotally mounted a lever 36 by means of a hinge 38. A compression spring 40 continuously urges the free end of the lever 36 away from the plate 34 in order that the lever 36 will not engage a switch 42 which is mounted on the plate 34. The switch 42 is connected to control the circuit of the motor 24 and hence when the door 10 is opened the door will abut against the lever 36 and press it into engagement with the switch 42 which will actuate the switch 42 to stop the motor 24. Additionally mounted on the plate 34 is a solenoid 44 which has an upwardly extending core 46 to which there is pivotally attached a latch 48 extending through an aperture 50 in the plate 34. The latch 48 is adapted to engage a lug or projection 52 which is secured to the door 10. Hence, as the door attains its open position, the latch 43 will ride over the lug 52 and then engage and hold the door in an open position. However, upon actuation by the solenoid 44 in response to operation of a suitable control switch 54 or 56 connected to the power supply line for the prime mover 24, the core 46 will be lowered thu's disengaging the latch 48 from the lug 52. Other control switches 58 and 60 are operatively connected to the primemover 24 for actuating the prime mover 24 upon the passage of a mine car 62. Another switch 64 is mounted on the door frame 12 so that the prime mover 24 may be stopped when the door has achieved a closed position due to the actuation of the cable 66 which is engaged through a suitable pulley 68 supported on the roof of the tunnel and another pulley wheel 70 on the door frame 12 and which is attached an arm 72 mounted on the door 10. The other end of the cable 66 is secured to the drum 26 and the door 10 is closed when the drum 26 is driven in an opposed direction to the direction taken when it opens the door.

Referring now to Figures 5 and 6 it will be seen that the prime mover 74 for driving this form of the invention and the drum 76 are encased in the housing 78 which is secured by means of bracket arms 80 to supporting the support member 20 a y jack screws 82. In this form of the invention, the latch 48, solenoid 44 and like mechanism are identical with the other form of the invention. However, the door 10 is opened by means of a cable 84 and is continuously urged to a closed position by means of a spring 86 terminally secured to the door 10 by means of a bracket 88 and to the wall of the mine tunnel by means of an eye 90. Obviously, when the spring 86 is used there is no necessity of the control switch 64. However, suitable signal lamps 92 which are either red or green are provided and may be operatively connected to the switching mechanism in order that they may flash a red or green signal depending on whether the door is opened or shut. Further, these lamps 92 if desired may be operated by the door itself which can engage suitable micro switches mounted on the door frame. However, the means for actuating the switch lamps 92 are optional.

Since from the foregoing the construction and advanavoasas tages of this control means for actuating mine doors is readily apparent, further description is believed to be unnecessary.

However, since numerous modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the foregoing specification and accompanying drawings, it is not intended to limit the invention to the precise embodiments shown and described, but all suitable modifications and equivalents may be readily resorted to which fall within the scope of the appended claim.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

For use with a horizontally swinging mine door, a door operating mechanism comprising a reversing motor mounted in spaced relation in front of the hinged edge of the door, an arm mounted on the door, said arm extending above and forwardly of the door, a sheave mounted above the door and adjacent the opening edge thereof, said arm terminating in spaced forward relation to said sheave, a drum operatively connected to said 4 motor, an actuating cable, one end of said cable being attached to the front of the door adjacent the opening edge thereof, said cable extending around said drum and entrained through said sheave, the other end of said cable being secured to the terminus of said arm.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS 286,549 Moyer Oct. 9, 1883 971,423 Walters Sept. 27, 1910 1,167,318 Schoenle Ian. 4, 1916 1,199,199 Mason Sept. 26, 1916 1,315,308 Homan Sept. 9, 1919 1,430,206 Wilterding et al. Sept. 26, 1922 1,432,058 Fogal et al. Oct. 17, 1922 1,539,980 Wheler June 2, 1925 1,681,962 Westby Aug. 28, 1928 2,000,515 Gross May 7, 1935 2,335,336 Zoller Nov. 30, 1943 2,388,182 Redding et al. Oct. 30, 1945 

